Hair cosmetic applicator

ABSTRACT

A hair cosmetic applicator includes a container for accommodating a hair cosmetic, and a comb section for discharging the hair cosmetic that is inside the container. The comb section is configured by aligning a plurality of plate-form comb teeth having liquid passageways for the hair cosmetic formed in the interiors thereof in the thickness direction of those plate-form comb teeth, discharge holes for the hair cosmetic are provided in at least one side of opposing surfaces of the adjacent plate-form comb teeth, and an inclined surface is formed in the base part of the plate-form comb teeth between adjacent plate-form comb teeth so as to face toward the hair cosmetic application surface when the hair cosmetic is being applied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a hair cosmetic applicator that is anapplicator for such hair cosmetics as haircolors and styling agents,wherein integrated are a container for accommodating the hair cosmeticand a comb section for applying the hair cosmetic.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Known to the prior art is an applicator for applying a haircosmetic such as a haircolor (permanent haircolor, semi-permanenthaircolor, demi-permanent haircolor, temporary haircolor, etc.) orstyling agent to the hair that is, as shown in FIG. 7, a hair cosmeticapplicator 1 wherein a squeeze container 2 for accommodating the haircosmetic and a comb section 3 for applying the hair cosmetic areintegrated.

[0005] In the comb section 3 of this hair cosmetic applicator 1, aplurality of plate-shaped comb teeth 4 having projecting parts 5 in thetips thereof, are aligned in the thickness direction of those plate-formcomb teeth 4. FIGS. 8A and 8B, respectively, are a partial top view anda side view of the comb section 3. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, liquidpassageways 6 for the hair cosmetic are formed in the interiors of theplate-form comb teeth 4, and, in the opposing surfaces of adjacentplate-form comb, the open ends of the liquid passageways 6 are providedas discharge holes 7 for the hair cosmetic. The base parts 9 of adjacentplate-form comb teeth 4 are continuous with each other.

[0006] As shown in FIG. 9, one end of the base part 9 of the plate-formcomb teeth 4 fits into a connecting member 10 so that it can be freelyattached or detached. As shown in FIG. 7, moreover, the end part 10 a ofthe connecting member 10 on the opposite side from the plate-form combteeth 4 screws into an opening 2 a in the squeeze container 2. Insidethe connecting member 10 is formed a plurality of branched liquidpassageways (not shown) for conducting the hair cosmetic discharged fromthe opening 2 a of the squeeze container 2 to the liquid passageways 6inside the plate-form comb teeth 4, and openings 11 of those liquidpassageways connect to openings 8 on the base part 9 side of the liquidpassageways 6 inside the plate-form comb teeth 4.

[0007] When this hair cosmetic applicator 1 is used in applying a haircosmetic to hair, first, the comb section 3 is placed against thesurface to which the hair cosmetic is to be applied (in other words,against to the scalp), with the squeeze container 2 oriented upward, andthe hair cosmetic applicator 1 is moved in the direction indicated bythe arrow A in FIG. 10 so as to comb the hair H while pressing thesqueeze container 2 and causing the hair cosmetic to be discharged fromthe discharge holes 7. Thus, when applying the hair cosmetic, it is notnecessary to prepare a comb or brush or the like ,separately from thathair cosmetic, whereupon the hair cosmetic can be applied to the hairconveniently.

[0008] However, when the hair cosmetic is applied using the haircosmetic applicator 1 described above, as shown in FIG. 10, by movingthe hair cosmetic applicator 1 in the direction of arrow A, the haircosmetic X discharged from the discharge holes 7 is pushed by the sidesurface 9 a of the base part 9, and is pushed upward as indicated by thearrow B. For that reason, a problem arises in that the hair cosmetic Xcannot be thoroughly applied up to the roots of the hair H. When onetries to dye the gray hair different color using a haircolor for grayhair as the hair cosmetic X.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] To deal with such problems as this, an object of the presentinvention is to allow a hair cosmetic applicator comprising a containerfor accommodating a hair cosmetic and a comb section for discharging thehair cosmetic from the container to apply the hair cosmetic surely up tothe hair roots and hairline.

[0010] In order to attain the object stated above, the inventor foundthat it is effective, when applying the hair cosmetic X to the hair Husing the hair cosmetic applicator 1, as in FIG. 10, to direct the flowof the hair cosmetic X so that it is pushed toward the applicationsurface S, after the hair cosmetic X discharged from the discharge holes7 is pushed by the side surface 9 a of the base part 9, and discoveredthat, for that purpose, it is only necessary to form the side surface 9a as an inclined surface facing toward the application surface S.

[0011] Specifically, the present invention provides a hair cosmeticapplicator that comprises: a container for accommodating a haircosmetic; and a comb section for discharging the hair cosmetic insidethe container; wherein: the comb section is formed by aligning aplurality of plate-form comb teeth in the direction of the thickness ofthose plate-form teeth; the plate-form comb teeth have liquidpassageways for the hair cosmetic in the interiors thereof; dischargehole(s) for hair cosmetic is(are) provided in at least one side ofopposing surfaces of adjacent plate-form comb teeth; and an inclinedsurface is formed in the base part of the plate-form comb teeth betweenadjacent plate-form comb teeth such that the inclined surface facestoward the side of the surface to be applied when the hair cosmetic isbeing applied with the hair cosmetic applicator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hair cosmetic applicator ofthe present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating how the comb section andconnecting member are mated;

[0014]FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D, respectively, are a partial top view, aside view, a bottom view, and a front view of the comb section;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the action of the hair cosmeticapplicator of the present invention;

[0016]FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, respectively, are a perspective view, a sideview, and a front view of the comb section;

[0017]FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, respectively, are a perspective view, apartial enlarged view, and a front view of the comb section;

[0018]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional hair cosmeticapplicator;

[0019]FIGS. 8A and 8B, respectively, are a partial top view and a sideview of the comb section;

[0020]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating how the comb section andconnecting member mate; and

[0021]FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing the action of a conventionalhair cosmetic applicator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] A detailed description of the present invention is now given,making reference to the drawings. In the drawings, identical symbolsdesignate identical or similar configurational elements.

[0023]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair cosmetic applicator 1A inone embodiment of the present invention. This hair cosmetic applicator1A comprises a squeeze container 2 for accommodating the hair cosmetic,and a comb section 3 for applying the hair cosmetic, where, in the combsection 3, a plurality of plate-form comb teeth 4 having projectingparts 5 in the tips thereof are aligned in the thickness direction ofthose plate-form comb teeth 4, similarly to the conventional haircosmetic applicator 1 shown in FIGS. 7, 8A, 8B, and 9.

[0024] The comb section 3 is configured such that one end of the basepart 9 of the plate-form comb teeth 4 fits into a connecting member 10that can be freely attached and detached (cf. FIG. 2), where liquidpassageways 6 for the hair cosmetic are formed in the interiors of theplate-form comb teeth 4, and discharge holes 7 that are the open ends ofthose liquid passageways 6 are provided in at least one side of opposingsurfaces of the adjacent plate-form comb teeth 4 that face each other(cf. FIG. 3).

[0025] In the present invention, furthermore, by a plate-form comb toothis meant a flat plate-shaped comb tooth the area whereof is sufficientlylarge compared to the thickness thereof.

[0026] This hair cosmetic applicator 1A is characterized in that, asshown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A to 3D, an inclined surface 12 facing towardthe application surface S when the hair cosmetic X is being applied isformed between adjacent plate-form comb teeth 4 in the base part 9 ofthe plate-form comb teeth 4. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, when thishair cosmetic applicator 1A is being used to apply the hair cosmetic Xto the hair H, when the hair cosmetic applicator 1A is moved in thedirection of arrow A, the hair cosmetic X discharged from the dischargeholes 7 is pushed toward the application surface S, as indicated byarrow B, by the inclined surface 12 in the base part 9 of the plate-formcomb teeth 4, and is directed toward the roots of the hair H.Accordingly, based on this hair cosmetic applicator 1A, it is possibleto apply the hair cosmetic X effectively up to the roots of the hair.

[0027] The angle of inclination θ of the inclined surface here, as shownin FIGS. 3A to 3D, which is the angle formed between the inclinedsurface 12 and the lower surface 4 b of the plate-form comb teeth 4(that is, the angle formed between the inclined surface 12 and theapplication surface S during the application of the hair cosmetic X),should be preferably from 20° to 70°0, and more preferably from 30° to60°. If the angle of inclination θ is too large, it becomes verydifficult to direct the flow of the hair cosmetic in the direction ofthe application surface S when applying the hair cosmetic. Conversely,if the angle of inclination θ is too small, the comb tooth length L₁(cf. FIG. 3A) of the plate-form comb teeth 4 will become short on theupper surface of the comb section 3, making it difficult to comb thehair with the plate-form comb teeth 4.

[0028] The projecting parts 5 at the tips of the plate-form comb teeth 4are provided to make it easier to comb through the hair, but thedischarge holes 7 for the hair cosmetic should be deployed near theprojecting parts 5 for applying the hair cosmetic to the hairline, andto the short hair at the temples and around the ears, and also in orderto facilitate application to the roots of the hair.

[0029] The container 2 for accommodating the hair cosmetic should beinclined preferably at an angle of 0° to 90°, and more preferably at 30°to 60°, with respect to the lower surface 4 b of the plate-form combteeth 4. By inclining the container 2 in this way, the hair cosmetic canbe applied without interference from the container 2, even when the haircosmetic applicator is used such that the plate-form comb teeth 4 arepressed firmly against the application surface S.

[0030]FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, respectively, are a perspective view, a sideview, and a front view of the comb section 3 of the hair cosmeticapplicator 1B in a different embodiment of the present invention. Thishair cosmetic applicator 1B differs from the hair cosmetic applicator 1Aof the present invention described above in that rims 13 are provided,with a step, at the edges of the plate-form comb teeth 4 on the sidetoward the application surface S when hair cosmetic is being applied,and in that the distance L₂ from the discharge hole 7 for the haircosmetic to the edge side of each plate-form comb tooth 4 toward thehair cosmetic application surface S when the hair cosmetic is beingapplied is shorter than the distance L₃ to the other side of theplate-form comb tooth opposing that edge side (that is, the dischargeholes 7 are made closer to the edge side of the plate-form comb teeth 4on the side toward the hair cosmetic application surface S).

[0031] By providing the rims 13 in this manner, the holding of the haircosmetic X between adjacent plate-form comb teeth 4 when the haircosmetic is being applied is facilitated. Accordingly, excessive haircosmetic X is prevented from flowing to the application surface S. Thus,when a haircolor is used as the hair cosmetic, for example, the skin isprevented from being unnecessarily dyed.

[0032] By making the discharge holes 7 closer to the edge sides of theplate-form comb teeth 4 on the side toward the application surface S,moreover, it becomes possible to cause the hair cosmetic to be appliedmore thoroughly to the roots.

[0033]FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, respectively, are a perspective view, apartial enlarged view, and a front view of the comb section 3 of yetanother hair cosmetic applicator 1C of the present invention. In thishair cosmetic applicator 1C, in the upper surface of the base part 9 ofthe plate-form comb teeth 4 (that is, in the surface on the oppositeside from the application surface), V-shaped cuts are made betweenadjacent plate-form comb teeth 4, and two inclined surfaces 12 a and 12b are formed between adjacent plate-form comb teeth 4. When this isdone, the ease of combing, when combing the hair with this comb section3, can be greatly improved.

[0034] The present invention can have in various embodiments, inaddition to the embodiments shown in the foregoing, so long as inclinedsurfaces that face toward the hair cosmetic application surface sidewhen the hair cosmetic is being applied are formed between adjacentplate-form comb teeth in the base part of the plate-form comb teeth. Forexample, in the upper surface of the base part 9 of the plate-form combteeth 4 of the hair cosmetic applicator 1B shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C,V-shaped cuts may be made between adjacent plate-form comb teeth 4, andtwo inclined surfaces (12 a and 12 b) formed between adjacent plate-formcomb teeth 4, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C.

[0035] In all of the embodiments shown, moreover, the discharge holes 7are provided on opposing surfaces of adjacent plate-form comb teeth 4,near the projecting parts 5, but, so long as the hair cosmetic is heldbetween the plate-form comb teeth 4, there is no limitation either onthe method of discharge of the hair cosmetic from the container 2, or onthe positions where the discharge holes 7 are formed. The dischargeholes 7 may be provided in the base bottom part of the plate-form combteeth 4. In this case, grooves may be formed in the side surfaces of theplate-form comb teeth 4, and the hair cosmetic conducted to theprojecting parts 5 of the plate-form comb teeth 4 through those grooves.

[0036] The type of hair cosmetic applied using the hair cosmeticapplicator of the present invention is not particularly limited, so longas it is a liquid cosmetic of such viscosity that it can pass throughthe liquid passageways and be discharged from the discharge holes. Thehair cosmetic applicator of the present invention can be used to applyvarious kinds of permanent haircolor, semi-permanent haircolor,demi-permanent haircolor, temporary haircolor, and other haircolors orstyling agents or the like to the hair.

[0037] Based on the present invention, it becomes possible, with a haircosmetic applicator comprising a container for accommodating a haircosmetic, and a comb section for discharging the hair cosmetic that isin the container, to apply the hair cosmetic surely up to the roots ofthe hair and to the hairline.

[0038] The entire disclosure of the specification, summary, claims, anddrawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-114459 is herebyincorporated by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair cosmetic applicator comprising: acontainer for accommodating a hair cosmetic; and a comb section fordischarging said hair cosmetic that is inside said container; whereinsaid comb section is formed by aligning a plurality of plate-form combteeth in direction of thickness of said plate-form teeth; and aninclined surface is formed in the base part of the plate-form comb teethbetween adjacent plate-form comb teeth such that the inclined surfacefaces toward the side of the surface to be applied when hair cosmetic isbeing applied with said hair cosmetic applicator.
 2. The hair cosmeticapplicator according to claim 1 , wherein said plate-form comb teethhave liquid passageways for said hair cosmetic in interiors thereof; andopen ends of said liquid passageways are provided as discharge holes forhair cosmetic in at least one side of opposing surfaces of adjacentplate-form comb teeth.
 3. The hair cosmetic applicator according toclaim 1 or 2 , wherein: projecting parts are formed in the tips of theplate-form comb teeth; and discharge holes for hair cosmetic are formednear said projecting parts.
 4. The hair cosmetic applicator according toany one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein rims are provided in edges ofplate-form comb teeth that are located on the side of the surface to beapplied when hair cosmetic is being applied with said hair cosmeticapplicator.
 5. The hair cosmetic applicator according to any one ofclaims 2 to 4 , wherein distance from discharge holes for hair cosmeticto the edges of said plate-form comb teeth that are located on the sideof the surface to be applied when hair cosmetic is being applied withsaid hair cosmetic applicator is shorter than distance to other sides ofsaid plate-form comb teeth opposed to said edges.
 6. The hair cosmeticapplicator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein V-shaped cutsare made between adjacent plate-form comb teeth in upper surface of thebase of said plate-form comb teeth, that is located on the side oppositefrom the surface to be applied when hair cosmetic is being applied withsaid hair cosmetic applicator; and two of said inclined surfaces areformed between adjacent plate-form comb teeth.